Daily Inspiration: Meet Velda Hunter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Velda Hunter.

Velda, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I got starting in acting when I was young. I was 7 years old and mostly acting in church, schools, and other organizations in Detroit. Then in college at Philander Smith College I continued honed in on my craft under the direction Angela Griffith Newkirk. In 2008 I received an audition for the play He Said She Said by Dennis Reed. That audition I landed the role of Angela and that catapulted my presence in acting. More playwrights asked me to audition for their plays.

By participating in different plays eventually, those playwrights became the filmmakers. The pandemic hurt the play circuit. It diminished. The playwrights saw it was safer to make movies with less people. Since the pandemic, I have been acting in movies. Directors and producers have assisted me into becoming a more versatile actress even though I am known as a comedic actress.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a nice road. The challenge with acting is having to work while auditioning and fulfilling a role. My background is Social Work and as a Social Worker my schedule can be hectic. Scheduling is key for me to participate in movies. My largest obstacle was losing my grandmother, father, and brother. They were my biggest supporters and fans.
Honoring them by continuing as an actress is my legacy for them.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an actress that acts in stage plays, movies, and web series. Recently, I have joined the casting side of movies. I specialize in comedic acting and exploring different ways to express comedic lines. Doing things like physically doing a facial expression vs. just saying a line is what I love to do. I am known for having a bubbly personality, being outgoing, and being a professional. I am most proud of that I have had longevity in the business of entertainment and that I have been able to grow. Being motivated to keep going as it relates to being a future writer, producer, and director for my own projects is a goal of mine.

What sets me apart from others is my positive outlook on life and my bubbly personality. By spreading God’s love and giving people a smile on their faces whether it is on-screen or in person is what really makes me happy.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck in terms of Good Luck has played a big part in my career as an actress. “Good Luck” has come in the form of last-minute replacements of characters I was able to play or late auditions I have landed. Those roles have allowed me to gain more notoriety from audiences around the country.

It has affordably me the opportunity to work with celebrities like Lamar Rucker, Christian Keyes, Jennifer Williams, Mike Bonner, Glen Plummer, Royce Reed, and Juju to name a few.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/veldaahuntertheactress
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/veldahunter
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/divavee

Image Credits
Velda Hunter
Jen Stanko Photography
Dennis Reed II
Jennifer Williams
Georgia
Marcus Ingram
Velda Hunter
Tenita Johnson